Standing in the Shadows (McClouds & Friends #2)(83)

He smiled. "I'm not ahead of myself at all."

"It's better to stay focused," she babbled. "I, uh, have too many things to do today to even think about—"

"Whatever you say, babe. What things do you have to do?"

She took one look at the uncompromising set of his jaw, and sighed. "Oh, dear. You're going to insist on escorting me everywhere?"

"Get used to it," he said. "Tell me what we need to do today."

She flopped back down onto the bed and thought about it. "Well, I have to get my cat back from my friend Tonia, and she'll be furious with me—the cat, not Tonia—so that'll involve lap time and kitty treats. I need to do some research for the Mueller report. Oh, and I need to sign up at some more temp agencies, too. But mostly, I need to track down my sister and check on Mom."

He nodded. "I'll call Sean for a progress report on the Cindy situation, but I can't handle Sean on an empty stomach. OK… cat, sister, mom. What else is on our agenda?"

He was so willing to take it all onto his shoulders. His generosity made her heart go all gooey. "Connor, you're a sweetheart, but these are my problems, not yours, and they're not pretty," she said gently. "Please don't think that just because we're involved—"

"Hey." He held up his hand. "Hello! Earth to Erin! You're my girlfriend now. Your problems are now my problems. No question."

She looked down at her hands, letting her damp, tangled hair hide her face. "We've only been together for two days."

"It doesn't matter if it's two days. It wouldn't matter if it were five minutes. And it's not a question of having to, or wanting to. It's just the way it is. So don't fight me. Because you'll lose. OK?"

She gave him a teasing smile. "Oh, my hero."

He rolled his eyes. "Please. Spare me. Cat, sister, mother, any other relatives to take care of? Grandmas, aunts, cousins?"

She shook her head. "None of them will have anything to do with us since the trial. It's like we have the plague."

Connor's hand crept higher, his fingertips brushing her nipple. She grabbed his hand, sliding it back to her belly and holding it firmly there. He let out a wistful sigh. "OK. The * relatives can go f*ck themselves. It's just as well. There's only so many hours in the day."

She flopped onto her back, giggling. All the things that had so much power to hurt and sadden her before now just seemed ridiculous, with Connor's energy and humor to buoy her up. She slid out from under the quilt, slapping his hands away. "I have to take another shower," she said. "You stop that right now, Connor. Be good."

"I'm always good, baby. Want to see?"

She eluded him, still laughing as she fled to the bathroom.

Connor was fully dressed and waiting by the door when she came out. "I saw a grocery store down the block," he said. "Let's run down and grab some makings for breakfast. I'm starving."

She smiled at him as she toweled herself off, resisting the urge to cover herself. He was her lover. He could look at her body all he wanted. He'd seen it all, from every angle, and he'd loved it The heated, appreciative glow in his eyes made her almost forget what he'd said.

"You run on down while I get dressed," she said. "The keys are on the shelf by the door. I'll stay. Cindy might call, or my mom."

He dropped the keys into his pocket. He looked troubled. "Do you know how to use a gun?"

"Dad showed us," she admitted. "He took us to the gun range a few times. I never liked them, but I can use one."

He crouched down and took a small, snub-nosed revolver out of an ankle holster. He held it out to her. "Keep this with you."

She backed away, shaking her head. "Connor, no. I'd—"

"Take it, Erin."

She knew that stony tone of his voice. She sighed, and took the gun. Whatever made him feel better.

He dismantled the squealer and unbolted the door. "Don't open up to anybody but me. Anything special you want from the store?"

"Some milk for my tea, please."

"You got it." His grin flashed. The door clicked closed.

She sank to her knees, boneless. The gun dropped to the rug.

Connor's absence changed the energy of the room so completely, it was like a pillar had been pulled from the roof. The need to stand up to him, to be strong and dignified, was gone. She huddled on the rug, half laughing, half crying. She couldn't breathe. Her heart had blown up to the size of a beach ball, and left no room for her lungs to expand. Her wildest dreams had come true. Connor McCloud was her lover, and what a lover. God. No amount of erotic fantasizing could have prepared her for a man like him. For sex like that.

The gun caught her eye. She picked it up with two fingers and placed it on the dresser. Time to get dressed and face the day, to be strong and tough and adult. She couldn't afford to be overwhelmed.

A phone rang while she was pulling on her jeans. Not her phone. She looked around, and realized that it came from the pocket of Connor's canvas coat, still flung over one of the kitchen chairs.

It could be Sean, calling with news of Cindy. She lunged for the phone. Several condoms and a bunch of her lost hairpins came out with it and scattered across the floor. She stared at the display. She had no way of knowing if the number displayed was Sean's, but she couldn't risk missing his call. She flipped open the mouthpiece. "Hello?"